James a



' (No Model.)

J. A. M. TYLER.

DEVICE FOR RAISING 0R LOWERING BUGGY TOPS.

No. 583,295. Patented May 25,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

JAMES A. M. TYLER, OF LEXINGTON, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO GEO. B. DARE, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR RAISING OR LOWERING BUGGY-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,295, dated May 25, 1897. Application filed Decemherll,1896. Serial No. 616,400. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. M. TYLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Dawson and State of 5 Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Device for Raising or Lowering Buggy and Carriage Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices for raising or lowering bugg -tops in which the lever by which the buggy-top is operated may be placed in position to lie par allel with the top of the seat when the bu ggytop is in any position.

I My object in this invention is to provide a device of simple, cheap, strong, and durable construction whereby the buggy-top may be "connected with a support from a vehicle-seat.

My object is, further, to provide a device to be connected with the supporting-frame for the buggy-top whereby the joints in the bu ggy-top may be broken, so as to enable the buggy-top to be lowered with one hand and the lever for operating the same be placed parallel with the top of the seat, which means shall be of simple, cheap, strong, and durable construction.

My invention consists in certain details of construction, arrangement, and combination 0 of parts, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the complete device as in practical use. Fig. 2 shows a detail view 3 5 illustrating the means for moving the handle independently of the shaft. Fig. 3 shows a detail perspective view of the opposite end of the shaft and its accompanying parts detached.

0 Referring to the accompanying drawings,

the reference-letter A is used to indicate a' bugg -*-seat, and A a metal frame secured to the back and sides of the seat and having the buggy-top-supporting rods B hinged thereto,

and at the back a shaft 0, rotatably mounted to extend transversely of the seat.

D indicates the jointed braces of the bu ggytop. They are connected with the top in the usual way. Their lower ends have openings therein to admit the ends of the shaft C, which are made angular at O 011 each end of the shaft 1 have placed first a disk F, having an angular central opening; then a rubber cushion F then a second disk F having an angular central opening and also a groove F to admit the end of the jointed brace, and finally a nut F on the end of the shaft.

H indicates a coil-spring wound upon the shaft 0, with one end fixed thereto and itsother end hooked under the frame A the force of the spring being extended to rotate the shaft in the direction that will elevate the top. Hence as the top is lowered power is stored in the spring and its rapid descent stopped, and as the top is raised the spring will aid and make it easier to raise.

On the end of the shaft opposite from the spring is a collar J, fixed to the shaft by means of a set-screw J 2 and having a clutchface J on its outer surface. K indicates a lever having a mating clutch-face K to mate with the clutch J This lever is arranged to be capable of a rotary movement on the shaft, and the clutches so arranged that when the top is raised the clutches will engage, so that a movement of the lever will lower the top, and then the lever may be returned to its horizontal posit-ion. To raise the top, one of the braces thereof is grasped and the top raised in the ordinary way. The lever is used only to break the joints in the braces, which operation usually requires both hands. After the joints are broken the top is easily handled from one side with one hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

The combination of a folding buggy-top, of ametal frame to extend around the rear and 0 sides of the buggy-seat, and having the buggytop braces hinged to its front ends, and having bearings at its rear, in the rear of the seat, a rock-shaft mounted in said bearings,

a disk fixed to the shaft near one end, and having an outwardly-projecting lug thereon, a lever rotatablymounted on the shaft, and having a shoulder thereon arranged to engage the projection of the disk when the buggy-top seat as soon as the joints in the buggy-top is in a raised position and the lever is in a have been broken, substantially as and for 10 position approximately parallel with the top the purposes stated.

of the buggy-seat, so that an upward 1nover ment of the lever Will engage the projection I JAMES '11 of the said disk and turn the shaft rearwardly, lVitnesses:

and so that the lever may again be moved G. B. DARR,

forwardly to its position on top of the buggy- C. F. SPENCER. 

